Darkened Images
By David Farr
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi and
are used here without permission.
Warning: Darkened Images contains themes that are definitely NOT FOR
CHILDREN. If you are a child and reading this, sorry, go read something
else, I don't want to get in trouble if you have nightmares about this
stuff.
Find other parts at:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
*****
At the door, Nodoka shook her head. She knew the other man, and he was
being very careless. Straightening, she gripped the door handle and
pushed it open. "You know gentlemen, if you want privacy, you should lock
the door."
The two men in the examination room both spun to face her. Tofu's face
was covered in shock and fear; he obviously did not like the sudden
arrival. The other, though, let a flash of anger pass over his face
before recognition washed it away.
"Gods Nodoka, don't do that," the Shard of Nerima breathed.
Tofu blinked in surprise and turned to face his companion. "You know
her?"
The Shard nodded, smiling and starting to relax. "Oh yes, she is the
daughter of an old friend of mine."
"We are also in the same line of work," Nodoka added, sweeping across
the floor. "Do not worry gentlemen, I locked the door as I entered."
"The same line of work?" Tofu mused. "Is that how you're going to help
Tendo-san find his daughters, Saotome-san?"
One of Nodoka's brilliant smiles was gifted to Tofu. "Our business
certainly helps in that respect."
"Soun Tendo is the one you were talking about last night?" The Shard
inquired, Nodoka nodded in reply. "Oh, then his daughters are gone. Pity,
I was thinking of recruiting one of them. A truly remarkable girl,
really, but not the most stable of personalities."
"Excuse me," Tofu interrupted, "but I doubt any of the Tendo's would be
useful in a fight against monsters." Nodoka let out a musical laugh while
the Shard chuckled.
"Did I say something funny?" Tofu inquired.
"Oh, I'm sorry Doctor," Nodoka shook her head. "It just I'm sure it just
struck us as funny because usually when someone gets the wrong idea about
us, they think we're a crime syndicate."
The shard nodded in agreement. "Yes, quite right. Actually we need to
stay well informed, so we can keep an eye out for such problems. Of
course, you've only ever seen the worst of it."
"It will be good to know there is somewhere to go if we need help." She
smiled at Tofu, then turned to the Shard. "Which of the girls was it?"
*****
The sun shone brightly down through the leaves, causing sparkles of
light to play on the faces of anyone looking up. It was the perfect day
to simply sit back and enjoy the sights of nature. It was no surprise
that this beauty was completely lost on the two martial artists as they
sat down to lunch.
Ranma and Ukyo had both unpacked their bento boxes and settled down in
the shade. Both glanced at their meals, then at each other's. Ranma's,
prepared by his mother, had sausages cut into cute little squids, a few
pieces of seafood, a large cake of rice and lots of vegetables. Ukyo's on
the other hand consisted of slices of cold Okonomiyaki, leftovers from
the breakfast and dinner the previous night.
By unspoken agreement, the two swapped boxes.
"So, Ucchan, you still work in the family businesses?" Ranma asked as he
fished out the first slice. To any casual observers it would have sounded
like an ordinary question, however the only person eavesdropping was not
casual.
"Hmmm-hmmm," Ukyo hummed affirmatively as she bit the head off a prawn.
"Pops teaching me everything he knows. He even got me a job away from
home to 'broaden my horizons'."
Ranma nodded. "Oh, I wondered why you're in Nerima."
"Speaking of being in Nerima, why are you here?"
Ranma paused in his eating for a second, a thoughtful look on his face.
For a brief instant he wondered how much he should tell his childhood
friend. "'Member the engagement that pop roped me into? Well, it's to one
of the daughters of his friend, Soun Tendo--"
"Akane Tendo's father," Ukyo guessed.
"Right. So we turn up, expecting to meet them and get to know them.
'Cept it didn't turn out that way."
"Oh?" Ukyo raised an eyebrow as she lift a ball of rice to her mouth.
"Yeah, the old man was pretty out of it, but we managed to get what
happened out of him. Seems some guy snatched his girls."
On the other side of the tree it was all the listener could do to keep
from reacting.
"Oh!" Ukyo cried, alarm showing on her face. Then guilt hovered in her
eyes. "To think, I was blaming Akane for upping and leaving me with this
Kuno mess."
"Kuno mess? Oh, right, the fight this morning, you said this Kuno guy
caused it. What's up with that?"
Ukyo shrugged. "He thinks he's some great Samurai from olden times. He
gets into these romantic spiels, and sometimes I think he forgets what
he's saying. Like I said this morning, he made this announcement that
lead to Akane getting mobbed, but he's too caught up in his own nobility
to see his own mistake."
"Sounds like a loon," Ranma commented sourly.
"Yeah, problem is he's a rich loon from an old family." She sighed. "But
he's harmless if ya stay out of his way. Which won't be possible if he
gets a whiff of your possible engagement to his one true love, Akane
Tendo." She giggled.
"Great," Ranma groaned, slumping a little. "So, any other noteworthy
folks about?"
"Not really. Kuno's sister comes around every now and then, she's saner
than her brother, but that's not saying much. I heard there's someone who
sells information and runs sports betting. A couple of weirdoes, like
that sunken faced guy in our class, but not much more."
"Sounds like a nice quiet place, then."
"I don't know, Ranchan, rumour has it that we're getting a big concert
out at the open air concert hall in a few weeks."
As the pair laughed, Akiko calmly wrapped up her chopsticks in her
serviette and placed them in her bento. Even as she walked slowly away
her mind was starting to turn. Saotome had dropped a lot of important
information into her lap, and she needed some time to think. And plan.
*****
She hurt. No, that wasn't right. Hurt was what you were when you scraped
your knee, or stubbed your toe. What she felt was soul searing, flesh
rending agony. She had never felt pain like this before. Not when she'd
sparred with her father. Not when she'd broken her leg. Not even when her
mother died. But she had lived through it before, every day He'd had her,
for every mistake she made, and survived without a mark.
Strangely she felt betrayed by that. She should have been scarred by
this kind of pain, and it should linger, not just vanish when He decided.
Damn Him.
No, damn her.
After all, it was her fault she was there. If only she hadn't...
If only...
His laughter cut through her pain. His voice, reminding her of her
place. His words, reaccounting what deeds of hers had brought her to
this.
And it was her fault, because if she hadn't made that first mistake, he
wouldn't hate her, and she wouldn't feel the pain. She wouldn't have felt
it yesterday, and she wouldn't feel it today, and she wouldn't feel it
tomorrow.
The pain was gone, and the lush carpet rushed up to meet her skin. Her
limbs should have throbbed in pain, taking her attention away from the
harsh fibres against her face and breast and stomach and legs. But they
didn't, and she felt it. And it was just one more reminder of what she
was.
*****
If you asked who was boss of Furnikan high, then most of the students
and faculty would answer the deputy-principal, a few would whisper of his
eternally absent superior, who was secretly ruling from some distant
land. Some who answered, though, would be lying to your face.
There was one person, who knew the truth behind the principal, who had
strings tied to everyone who could be a problem. In truth that person was
the power behind the throne of Furnikan. Unfortunately, that person was
missing.
So it was that the reigns of power fell to the care of a triumvirate.
All three were loyal to their missing boss, and all three felt unworthy
of filling the shoes left behind. So it was that Akiko, Maiko and Hitomi
gathered in the one room they were sure was secure, each bringing the
fruits of their labours.
Akiko finished relating what she had overheard at the tree and turned to
Maiko, leaving the pair sitting ashen faced.
"Nabiki kidnapped?" Hitomi muttered.
Akiko nodded unhappily. "Saotome didn't say much, but I think he knows
more than he said."
"He'd have to be stupid not to," Maiko snorted. "The question is, what
do we about it?"
"Until we know how much we can trust Saotome, there's little we can do."
Akiko turned to Hitomi. "So, what do we know about him?"
The scruffy girl pulled a pair of glasses from her pocket and slid them
on before picking up a wad of paper. "Hmm... well... it was a little
strange. His records had just been transferred over from a school in
China of all places, but they had been translated, thankfully." She
sifted through the papers. "His academic career looks somewhat like a
rich-man's passport: India, South Africa, Europe, the Americas. He's been
everywhere. His grades are excellent in Sports, average in the arts, poor
in the more academic subjects and his social skills needed development.
Its been noted that he doesn't take part in many extra-circular
activities, but that could be explained by his moving around every couple
of months." She stopped at one page and pulled it clear of the bundle.
"This I thought you'd have to see to believe."
Akiko accepted the paper and glanced over it. "Is this serious?" She
couldn't believe that someone could be cursed to turn into a girl with
cold water. What's more it stated that the girl was a totally different
personality.
"Apparently so." Hitomi looked at the next page. "The deputy-principal
sent a note around his teachers confirming the curse." She passed that
on. "His last school, the one in China, did some aptitude testing on this
so-called 'Ranko Saotome'. Totally different results: High social skills,
excellent at the arts, above average academically, and very poor at
sports."
Maiko glanced at the page before handing it back to Hitomi. "This guy's
a real freak. But why include it on his records. If I had something like
that, I'd be embarrassed."
"True, but the secret would be out the first time you got caught in the
rain," Akiko pointed out. She paused looking thoughtful. "This Saotome is
a complicated character."
"So what are we going to do about him?" Hitomi inquired.
"I don't know," Akiko replied simply. "Nabiki-sama would, I'm sure, but
I have no idea."
"Maybe we should poke the ant-hill and see what we stir up." Maiko
suggested, smiling.
The other two looked at her, eyebrows raised. "Oh?"
*****
"Oh Kuno-senpai!"
Lunchtime was ending and most of the students were starting to drift
back towards their classes. Tatewaki Kuno, a man of noble birth and
bearing (if you believed his own press), turned as the girl bounced into
the room. He sighed, wondering if this was yet another pretty young girl
who had fallen for his charms.
"Alas, fair maiden, I cannot accept your advances," he intoned as she
came before him, "for another has my heart."
Maiko tried to brush the errant locks of hair from in front of her left
eye; a sign of her irritation to those few her truly knew her. "Sorry
senpai," she queried, "I don't understand."
"Never mind, fair-one. For what reason did you seek me out?"
"Oh, I heard something that I think you should know. Normally I'd just
tell Nabiki and she'd pass it on, but she's not here..." she glanced at
the empty desk Nabiki usually sat at, "so I guess I have to tell you
directly."
"Ah, you are one of that mercenary Nabiki Tendo's friends. I understand.
What is this information?"
Maiko held out her hand coyly, palm raised. "Well, Nabiki wouldn't like
it if I didn't get something in return."
Kuno rolled his eyes and slammed a wad of cash into the outstretched
hand. "Now speak woman."
Maiko waved him closer then stood up on the tips of her toes to whisper
in his ear.
"ENGAGEMENT!" Kuno roared. "I can not allow it." He rushed towards the
door.
"3... 2... 1..." Maiko counted and lifted her hand again.
Another wad of cash was slammed onto her palm. "Where is this Saotome?"
"He's with the new girl, Ukyo Kuonji, under a tree next to the north
wall," she replied. Kuno was gone again with a flash and didn't hear her
"Nice doing business with you!"
*****
Ranma and Ukyo were laughing hard as they wandered back towards the
school building. Many of their fellow students were giving them strange
looks, but it was obvious that the two martial artists cared not a bit.
"Remember when we dumped that pot full of sauce on pop?" Ranma asked,
still dwarfing.
"Oh, yeah, that was a good one," Ukyo continued to giggle. "He was being
chased for hours by those dogs."
Slowly the laughter died out, leaving them smiling. "I can't believe
that was four years ago," Ranma said shaking his head slowly. "Time
passes too fast."
"Yeah, but what do you expect when your family is dragging you all over
the world on training trips?" Ukyo smiled. "At least you got to travel by
plane. If it had been just your father you can bet you'd have been
footing it all the way."
"Oh, yeah, but can you see mum living the life of the wandering martial
artist."
Ukyo tried to conjure the image, but all she could see was Genma
cowering from his sword-welding wife. "Not likely."
"Of course, she always said it so that I could spend more time actually
training." He gave her a wry grin. "Which meant I was spending more time
actually training."
Ukyo, still looking ahead, slowed to a stop, and the smile slipped from
her face. "Uh, oh."
Ranma turned to see a young man in the robes of a samurai. His strides
had already carried him down the stairs and were now bringing him
straight towards them at an alarming pace. The bokken swinging wildly in
the air left on doubts to his intentions.
"I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" the oncoming Kendoist screamed.
Without comment, both martial artists leapt, up and over, performing a
single synchronised flip in mid-air. Before landing as one and spinning
to face their attacker. About them students broke into applause.
"Wow, now that's training," someone exclaimed.
"Who's this guy?" Ranma asked of Ukyo.
"Ranma Saotome, meet the school loon, Tatewaki Kuno."
"I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" Kuno cried again, turning to face them. Ranma
raised an eyebrow at Ukyo, who replied with a simple shrug.
Ranma stood straight, and squared off against Kuno. "I don't believe
we've been properly introduced. I am Ranma Saotome of the Saotome school
of Anything-Goes Martial Arts." He bowed deeply.
"I know who you are varlet! It is you who has driven the beauteous Akane
Tendo from her home."
Ranma blinked in confusion. "Say what?"
Kuno moved his gaze to Ukyo and glared at her disdainfully for a moment,
then returned his attention to Ranma. "Now I see it. In order to continue
your affair with this trollop --"
"Trollop!" Ukyo seethed, tensing further.
"-- you allowed your finacee, Akane Tendo, to be kidnapped!"
"Fiancee?!" Some of the crowd cried, while the more astute echoed:
"Kidnapped?!"
In the back of the crowd Maiko leaned over to Akiko. "I didn't--"
"I know," the other replied, silencing her with her hand.
"How dare you!" Ranma hissed, his fists clenching beside him. "How dare
you accuse me of such dishonour! I was not even in the country! I did not
know her!" He stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "And I do NOT answer to
one such as you!" He stabbed a finger at Kuno.
"You will answer to one such as me!" Kuno cried, posing dramatically.
"For I am Tatewaki, undefeated captain of the Kendo team, also known as
the Blue Thunder of Furnikan high!"
Akiko turned to Hitomi. "Add that one to the list."
"Blue Thunder," Hitomi muttered as she scribbled in a notebook.
"I couldn't care less if you were the principal," Ranma sneered, taking
another step across the distance. "You are arrogant and insulting! You
have shown disrespect to both my good FRIEND Ukyo and me! My honour
demands satisfaction!"
"Then we shall settle this like true warriors." He brandished his
practise sword, then stepped back to gaze at Ranma.
In return Ranma simply stood, watching his opponent through half-lidded
eyes. He held a relaxed pose, arms loosely hanging at his side. The only
sign of his preparedness was a slight smirk played across his face.
Ukyo laughed then started waving back the people closest to her. "Stand
back folks, Ranchan's fights can take up a lot of space."
Ending the stand off, Kuno struck first, diving forward, his sword
flashing. Ranma dodged backwards, weaving the speedy thrusts that blurred
about him.
"You're going to have do better than that." Ranma dropped low, striking
outwards at Kuno's legs with his fists. The kendoist rolled forwards,
over Ranma and across the ground. Both warriors spun and dove back
together.
Kuno leapt over Ranma's sweep, even as he swung downwards. The other
turned his sweep into a roll, and the bokken struck dirt as Ranma flipped
back to his feet.
"You are good, wretch," Kuno spat, "but I will triumph!" He slashed the
air between them. Despite the distance between them, Ranma felt the blow,
and was struck over by the force.
"Woah, air pressure only," Ukyo murmured from the sidelines.
Suddenly Kuno was standing over the prone Ranma, his sword striking down
with force. It was a blow that would surely kill if it struck.
"RANCHAN!" Ukyo's scream sounded amongst the gasps from the gallery.
*TWAK*
The blow was met by Ranma right arm, slicing through the red silk of his
shirt. Kuno grinned down at his opponent, knowing that the blow had at
least broken a bone. His expression faded as he saw the predatory smile
on Ranma's face.
A twist of Ranma's wrist slid the wooden blade into his grasp. Yanking
hard, he pulled the kendoist off balance and, as Kuno started over him,
Ranma kicked up hard with both feet, catapulting him upwards. The kick's
momentum launched Ranma into the air in a tighter arc than Kuno, meaning
he was on his feet in time to deliver two spin kicks just as the kendoist
struck the ground.
The crowd leapt out of the way as the Blue Thunder of Furnikan high
crashed across the ground before slamming into a tree. For a moment
everyone held their breaths, wondering if Kuno would make a come back.
Instead he simple remained leaning, upside down and half folded, against
the tree.
"NEVER question my honor," Ranma said to his comatose foe.
*****
"I'm home!" Ranma called out as he slid off his shoes.
Moments later Nodoka stepped out of the dinning room. She was once again
wearing her kimono and her soft smile. "Oh, you didn't bring Ukyo home. I
was hoping to catch up with old times."
Ranma shrugged. "She's working at a restaurant in town. It's kind of an
exchange program her father dreamt up." He wandered over. "She's kept up
her training though."
"I'd be surprised if she hadn't. Her parents are almost as serious about
her training as your father and I." She smiled. "It's just a pity she
couldn't go on the type of journey we did." Something caught her eye and
she reached over to Ranma's sleeve. "You got into a fight?"
"Yeah, pretty bad one too." He slid back the sleeve, revealing the
bracer underneath it. A spidery crack wound up its surface. "I
underestimated my opponent, and he got in a lucky blow."
"Ah." Nodoka turned and started away. "So, what were you fighting
about."
Ranma frowned, following along behind her. "There we have a problem. He
knew Akane was kidnapped."
"How?" Nodoka spun back.
"I'm not sure. I'd told Ukyo, but I doubt he had heard that way, he
didn't seem surprised enough. He was surprised about the engagement
though." He stopped, still frowning.
"Do you think he had some part of the kidnapping?"
"No. He's not the type." He stopped again. "But I am going to have to
look in on him. See what he does know."
"What is his name? I will visit the Shard tonight and find out what I
can. That means you watch tonight, I don't want you stepping on any
toes."
"Tatewaki Kuno."
Nodoka nodded. "Good, hopefully this will flesh out into a good lead. We
need one."
-----
Author's Notes:
Prizes for guessing the identity of the unnamed female being
tortured. Well, there would be if I had any to offer. And if you think
that was a dark scene, wait until Ranma, Nodoka and their allies start
getting serious.
-----------
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz katsuhito@planetjurai.com
"Die-cast construction, it's a lost art."
- Optimus Primal, Beast Wars.